Unlocking The Kingdom

I've been a huge Disney fan since the first time my parents introduced me to Disneyland. My first experience and even my more recent time in the park still possesses that magic I had when I was younger, only know I share a greater appreciation for the dreams of Walt Disney. He set out to create a place where kids and their parents could escape the ordinary world and escape into a world of make believe and this is just what I believe he accomplished.

In the second novel by Jeff Dixon, Unlocking the Kingdom is a fantasy fiction book based on the dreams of Walt Disney turning over the "key to the kingdom" to someone who would see his dreams and attempt to continue to fulfill them within the Magic Kingdom based in Florida. He created a master plan along with three of his most trusted Imagineers to some day find someone suitable to pass along control to managing the park and resort properties. Grayson Hawkes was that man. We learn more about how he came to possess the "key to the kingdom" in his first novel, The Key to the Kingdom, and in this one, the mystery begins to unfold once again.

Grayson Hawkes is still a part time preacher in his local church, Celebration Community Church, but now with time, notoriety and fame have pushed him into the media spotlight. Being a private man with a past he doesn't want to share with the world, he has been able to maintain that level of privacy until the day he meets with Total Access, an investigative television show, whose goal is to find out how a preacher at a local church is now suddenly the control interest in the Magic Kingdom. The one thing Grayson Hawkes didn't plan on was trouble within the park by those that want him to resign and to turn over the key to the kingdom to them. It begins by finding pirate figures from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride now in four different attractions just as the park is open for business. All Grayson can figure out, is someone with access into the park could be the only one responsible for these pranks. But its about to get personal when Grayson is confronted and attacked in the Hall of Presidents attraction by a man wearing a Jimmy Carter mask. He warns Grayson that if he doesn't relinquish control of the property and the key things will get much, much worse.

On top of all this is the ever inquisitive investigative reporter, Kate Young from Total Access who will be spending the next week shadowing him with her film crew in hopes of giving her television audience the total access to Grayson Hawkes. In the midst of all of this a new mystery begins with the second task Grayson must deal with, finding the next set of clues from the second Imagineer, George Colmes to unlocking a greater piece of Disney help from Walt Disney, himself to help Grayson continue in his efforts to manage the Magic Kingdom.

I received Unlocking the Kingdom by Jeff Dixon compliments of Deep River Books and Bring It On Communications for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such an amazing series, Keys to the Kingdom, and my own disappointment is these novels are based in the Magic Kingdom in Florida and thus, I can't visit to check out some of the interesting trivia and Disney facts that Jeff blends into this amazing series. I didn't realize that there was a Mickey Mouse on the golf ball in the Soaring attraction and that Michael Eisner was the person who hit the ball that appears destined to hit the passengers on the attraction. The mystery that Grayson must uncover is truly remarkable and gives readers insight into the world of Walt Disney and the people he employed in his goal to make Disney theme parks a truly magical experience. If you love Disney and a great mystery, then you will LOVE this novel. If you haven't picked up the first one, The Key to the Kingdom, I would suggest you start there first and then venture into this one. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and plan on keeping this one on my personal library shelf.

For more information about Unlocking the Kingdom, Jeff Dixon or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Unlocking the Kingdom by Jeff Dixon

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Makai Queen

Imagine if a world really did exist under the sea, filled with people who had the special gifts of being able to care for and understand the life below the waves. Sound interesting? This is just the story you'll find in the novel Makai Queen by Tara Fairfield. This is the perfect novel for middle school readers who love a bit of fantasy in their novels.

The story involves Tessa Armstrong, a young teenage girl who finds her special place is being near the ocean. Almost as if she belongs there, even her dreams lately have involved her being in the ocean. When she finds a young man washed ashore on the beach, she sees that he is the same man in her dreams and wonders if that is all really possible. She learns his name is Ka moho-alii, but most people call him simply Moho. He tells her that his best friend Kele and his mother, Hiiaka were kidnapped two weeks ago and he's been searching for them between the Hawaiian Islands. Eager to help in any way she can, Tessa takes a walk with Moho to learn more. When Moho spots a threat on the beach, he grabs Tessa and dives into the ocean. As long as she remains with Moho she is able to breathe underwater. Not knowing what else to do, she waits until they are alone in an undersea cave to gain an explanation to his apparent kidnapping off the beach. She learns that his brother Kupua is the one responsible for the kidnappings and also the one searching for Tessa.

As Tessa begins to spend time with Moho she learns that she is supposed to be the next queen of Mohu-ola, an island of life below the sea floor. Endowed with powers she doesn't believe she possesses, she struggles with understanding what he is telling her. It seems that each of the people of Mohu-ola have one perfect partner, a perfect match created for the other. The partner is created at birth and when the time is right it is revealed to them, in this case in the dreams that Tessa has been having of her life in the ocean. What she is about to discover will completely leave her breathless.

I received Makai Queen by Tara Fairfield compliments of Deep River Books and Bring It On Communications for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is the perfect novel for your middle school child who seeks a little bit of adventure in their reading. It almost reminds me of a Hawaiian Fairy Tale and one I know your children will enjoy. Perfect for ages 10 and up, you get a sense of what life is like under the sea and learn some valuable God insights along the way like forgiveness and honesty. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. My 14 year old loved the aspects of life underwater and being able to communicate with the creatures of the sea.

For more information about Makai Queen, Tara Fairfield or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Makai Queen by Tara Fairfield

You can also follow Tara Fairfield on Facebook to stay up to date with all of her latest novels.

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Deep River Books (February 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193775670X
• ISBN-13: 978-1937756703
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches 

Available at your favorite retailer in paperback and eBook formats

Chasing Moments

"We live in an amazing world. Rich variety is expressed in our food, clothing styles, architecture, languages, occupations, and religious expressions. Yet, despite our diverse cultures and the unique ways we human beings spend our days, we all strive for all that life might offer.

In this search for life - full, real life - many grasp for individual moments of fulfillment and consequently live in a never-ending quest. A cruise or exotic dinner promises pleasure but ends quickly without any sustained satisfaction. Surely life is more than chasing moments! Life leaves many of us empty in the end. No one should neglect the question to find out whether life has ultimate meaning. The question is this: "Will I live life or simply exist?"

The classic phrase "the blind leading the blind" identifies a key obstacle preventing the enjoyment of life's true meaning. Long before most people ever ask the right questions about life, they're already following the same path as nearly everyone else. Leaders tend to groom those who come behind them to follow in what they have learned from those who went before. No one knows, if, why, or how the path they're on will lead to a truly fulfilled life. Few are brave enough to consider that so many could be so wrong.

The essence of what Jesus came to do is expressed in his statement, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b). Jesus invites each of us to "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14)."

In the book, Chasing Moments by Ed Malone, the reader is invited into the journey of just what the difference is in having a meaningful and abundant life. Far too often people strive to get to the next level in their life assured that once they arrive, happiness will follow. Only when they arrive, they find the moment fleeting at best and are still mystified to wonder where their happiness went. This book walks the reader through the hows and whys of a Christian relationship with Jesus and offers a self assurance that the happiness we seek will never be found in this life, but in the one that lies once we breathe our last breath here on Earth.

If you have ever wondered where true happiness is found, I would strongly encourage you to take a look at this powerful but simple book that details the purpose of why Jesus Christ's life and death was important and how we can each take a step in the right direction to assure ourselves of an eternal home that can only be found with a belief in Jesus Christ.

I received Chasing Moments by Ed Malone compliments of Deep River Books and Bring It On Communications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. I picked up this book myself to read because I felt like I was going through a dry spell in my own spiritual walk and wanted to draw a deeper meaning to the value of my life and my purpose here. I already know that no matter what I have in this life, it will never be enough. The better job, the bigger house, more money in the bank will alleviate certain fears in your life, but happiness can never come from wanting more but in doing more for others who need the very help you can offer. Trust me, the impacts in doing those things are life changing and memorable in ways I can't describe. All I know is the more you do them, the more you want to keep on doing them. People feel that they would do more to help others if they won the lottery or made more money, but why don't you help people now with what you can. Make a difference now in small ways than waiting for the big moment that may never come. Perhaps God is simply waiting to see how you handle the small things before launching you into bigger ones. I easily rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to those in need of spiritual awakening or even spiritual refreshing.

For more information about Chasing Moments, Ed Malone or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Chasing Moments by Ed Malone

You can order a copy of this book by clicking here. 

Miracle on Snowbird Lake

This is not the book for everyone, especially those that have a hard time reading about child abductions. However in Miracle on Snowbird Lake by Stan Bednarz, the reader gets an inside look at what the family of the victim has to deal with in not knowing if their child is alive or dead, and those intense feelings of revenge that surface whenever a suspect is found.

Reverend Robert Davis is struggling with many different emotions since the disappearance of his eleven-year-old daughter Annie rode off on her bike one summer day and was never heard from again. Despite all the search efforts of the town and local authorities, no trace of Annie other than her abandoned bicycle were ever found. It has made the small town of Dutch Hollow especially diligent of watching over their own children more closely to ensure the same never happens to them.

For Robert and his wife, Mary they do what most surviving families do in cases like these, each chooses to deal with the tragedy in their own way. Mary dissolves into a state of deep depression while she blames Robert for Annie's disappearance. Robert tries to find solace in his job at the church, but even God appears silent on this issue and he contemplates suicide many times but never follows through. When an apparent psychic shows up with information about Annie, Robert isn't sure if this is simply another attempt for dealing with emotions from the past again or finding hope that Annie is still alive. In either case, he has to meet with Donna Brushton to find out if there is any hope at finding Annie alive after all this time.

I received Miracle on Snowbird Lake compliments of Bring It On Communications and Carmichael Publishing for my honest review. Dealing with crimes against innocent children makes any fiction or non fictional book hard to read, but within this one I found hope again. That despite whatever outcome, God can still bring about some good from whatever happens in time. This is the story of such a case. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review.

For more information about Miracle on Snowbird Lake, Stan Bednarz or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Miracle on Snowbird Lake by Stan Bednarz

Uncle Eben's Christmas

A different take of the traditional Christmas Carol, we find Eben Johnson just days before the Christmas season, hard at work trying to make it another successful year in his Home Improvement Store.

It's a Monday morning just promptly at nine when he arrives for his staff meeting with his department heads. After all the normal business agenda items, Myron Hoffman announces that one of the employees isn't following his stores holiday policy. When he asks for the employee's name, Myron tells him he will talk to him about it privately later.

Eben Johnson once more reiterates his stores policy against refraining from using the words Merry Christmas in his store, from referring to items as holiday decorations or lights to the use of Happy Holidays in his stores advertising, but most importantly, no one is to wish anyone a Merry Christmas.

What Eben Johnson will come to understand this year is just how his store policy may in fact cost him customers and ultimately affect his bottom line in the end.

In the book, Uncle Eben's Christmas, by Stephen Alan Slater, we find out just what Eben believes and why he is so dead-set on making sure Christmas and Christ stay out of his life. He personally feels that all his good deeds he does everyday will ultimately win out over his "sins" anyway. He has nothing to fear. Yet when his bad mood gets the best of him when dealing with his niece about Christmas, he is about to get the surprise of his life.

I received Uncle Eben's Christmas compliments of Bring It On Communications and Deep River Books for my honest review and think this would make for a great Christmas book to add to your collection. It brings about so many questions regarding evolution versus creation in addition to offending other religions with the Christmas greeting. I think this book hits it right on the head and provides more insight into why someone people act the way they do during the Christmas season. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about this book, the author and where you can purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Uncle Eben's Christmas by Stephan Alan Slater